The Plains Cree leaders Big Bear and…

The Plains Cree leaders Big Bear and Poundmaker had been independently formulating their complaints during June 1884, and subsequently hold meetings with Louis Riel.

However, the natives' grievances are quite different from those of the settlers, and nothing is then resolved.

Inspired by Riel, Honoré Jackson and representatives of other communities set about drafting a petition, and Jackson on July 28 released a manifesto detailing grievances and the settler's objectives.

Following the Red River Rebellion, Métis had traveled west and settled in the Saskatchewan Valley, especially along the south branch of the river in the country surrounding the Saint-Laurent mission (near modern St. Laurent de Grandin, Saskatchewan).

But by the 1880s, it had become clear that westward migration is no panacea for the troubles of the Métis and the plains tribes.

The rapid collapse of the buffalo herd is causing near starvation among the Plains Cree and Blackfoot.

This has been exacerbated by a reduction in government assistance in 1883, and by a general failure of Ottawa to live up to its treaty obligations.

The Métis are likewise obliged to give up the hunt and take up agriculture—but this transition is accompanied by complex issues surrounding land claims similar to those that had previously arisen in Manitoba.

Moreover, settlers from Europe and the eastern provinces are also moving into the Saskatchewan territories, and they too have complaints related to the administration of the territories.

Virtually all parties therefore have grievances, and by 1884, English settlers, Anglo-Métis and Métis communities are holding meetings and petitioning a largely unresponsive government for redress.

In the electoral district of Lorne, a meeting of the south branch Métis had been held in the village of Batoche on 24 March, and thirty representatives voted to ask Louis Riel to return and represent their cause.

On May 6, a joint "Settler's Union" meeting had been attended by both the Métis and English-speaking representatives from Prince Albert, including William Henry Jackson, an Ontario settler sympathetic to the Métis and known to them as Honoré Jackson, and James Isbister of the Anglo-Métis.

It was here resolved to send a delegation to Montana to ask Riel's assistance in presenting their grievances to the Canadian government.

The head of the delegation to Riel was Gabriel Dumont, a respected buffalo hunter and leader of the Saint-Laurent Métis who had known Riel in Manitoba.

James Isbister was the lone Anglo-Métis delegate.

Riel had been easily swayed to support their cause—which is perhaps not surprising, in view of Riel's continuing conviction that he is the divinely selected leader of the Métis and the prophet of a new form of Christianity.

Riel also intends to use the new position of influence to pursue his own land claims in Manitoba.

The party had departed 4 June, and had arrived back at Batoche on 5 July.

Upon his arrival, Métis and English settlers alike had formed an initially favorable impression of Riel, following a series of speeches in which he advocates moderation and a reasoned approach.